Train order holding means



May 2, 1933. R. w. STEWART TRAIN ORDER HOLDING MEANS Filed Sept. 21. 1951 Patented May 2, 1933 arce RALPH WESLEY STEWART, OF CLIFTON CITY, MIS$QURI TRAIN ORDER HOLDING MEANS Application filed September 21, 1931.

copy or copies of the train order or orders each order being held by a separate hoop so positioned on a stafi that it may be readily grasped; or received by the enginemen and trainmen while the train is passing the location of said means.

The purpose of my invention is to provide means which will eliminate the need for an attendant or stationmanto stand along the right-of-way while attempting to deliver the orders to the train crew while the train is in rapid motion. j

The object of my invention is to provide means of the character defined which will maintain the respective order holding hoops in proper position against vibration or the action of wind while at the same time yieldinglyholding the hoops so they may move in the general direction of the passing train while the members of the train crew are grasping the diiferent order holding hoops intended for the respective members of the crew.

The objects and advantages of my invention will be more readily comprehended from the detailed description of the accompanying drawing, Wherein' Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved means illustrating a train order hoop in position. 1

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the means provided with a train order holding hoop of which the hoop portion is broken awa Figure 3 is a partial side and sectional view of the portion shown in Figure 2 as viewed from the opposite side.

Figure 4 is a side elevation as viewed from the order holder receiving side, with portions broken away to show the holder receiving socket. 1

My invention relates to suitable means for receiving and holding the usual train order- Serial 1%. $63,923.

an operator or attendant to stand close to passing trains while holding up the various hoops at suitable elevations where they can be grasped by the train crew while the train is moving past the order delivering station.

Heretofore train'orders or messages have been delivered to passing trains by an attendant holding the order holders in which the orders are secured; one end of each holder being in the form of a hoop through which the arm of the member of the train crew may be slipped while the train is passing, which is often at high speed. This method is not entirely dependable because the attendant frequently fails to release his hold at the proper instant or fails to hold the hoop-end of the holder in proper positionwhere it can be re ceived by the intended member .ofthe train crew.-

Furthermore, this method often necessitates members of the crew leaving their proper positions or seats in order that they may grasp the hoop intended for them and hence detracting the enginemens attention from the track ahead.

Furthermore, this method has frequently resulted in injury to the attendant by reason of falling roal from the tender, swinging car doors overhanging wires whereby shipments v may be fastened on gondola or on freight cars or from flying ballast; and has also resulted in an engineman slipping on the deck of the tender or on the steps in his effort to receive the order holder intended for him by the person holding the order holding hoops.

My improved means is intended to eliminate these serious objections and to provide means which will properly hold the train order holding hoops in proper position and in its specific embodiment involves a tubular staff or pipe 10 of properheight in order that the respectivetrain order holding hoops, one of which is indicated at 11, may be positi oned at different heights in keeping with the positions of the different members of the crew so that each may receive. his copy of the order or orders as the train is passing the point where the staff is located. For example, the tubular staff 10 may be eleven feet in height andsecured in a suitable foundation as at 12 so it may be maintained in fixed vertical position arranged at a predetermined point along the right-of-way and in proper proximity to the track. This staif 10 is shown consisting of a suitable pipe of proper diameter and strength, with the lower portion above the supporting base provided with suitable foot-holds or step brackets 13 arranged on pposite sides and at suitable distances apart vertically in order that an attendant may climb up the staff to place the order holding hoops in their respective sockets.

The staff, at suitable predetermined distances apart vertically and on the same side thereof, is provided with transverse openings or slots 1 1 more clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. At a suitable distance beneath each slot 14:, the interior of the stafi or pipe is provided with a stop member or block 15 held in position in any suitable manner, as for example by a transverse rivet or bolt as at 16. The slots 14 are preferably two and a half inches wide and about five inches long to permit theloop handle to work freely up and down without binding.

Rot-atably mounted in the staff or pipe and resting on the stop block 15 is a cylindrical block 17 of suitable length with its upper end exposed at its'respective opening or slot 14; the blocks 17 being preferably of more or less length so as to prevent any binding effect. That is to say, the blocks 17 should be free to rotate in the staff or pipe 10. The top of each rotatable block 17 (a similar block being mounted at each slot 1%) is provided with a square or preferably angular groove 18, see Figure 4, for the purpose of receiving the preferably square handle portion 19 of the train order holding hoop 11.

Slidably mounted in the staff or pipe 10 immediately above the hoop holding member 17 is a weight block or element 20 adapted to rest on the block 17 and therefore also on top of the handle 19 in the squared groove 18 of block 17, thereby maintaining the hoop in proper horizontal position, as shown in F igure 1.

My improved staif, as disclosed in the drawing, is shown provided with three order holder or hoop receiving slots 14 and therefore. it will be understood that the staff or pipe 10, adjacent to each slot lei, is provided with a stop block 15, a rotatable block or element 17 and a weight block 20.

It is apparent from the construction shown that the holding blocks 17 with the order holding hoops are free to swing and rotate in a horizontal direction thereby enabling the handles 19 of the hoops to be readily withdrawn from the angular or squared grooves 18 while the train is in motion because the blocks 'or elements 17 will rotate in the direction of train travel and dispose the squared groove 18 in the general direction of the moving train, which enables the order holding hoop to slide out longitudinally from the groove.

In order that the order holding hoops may be in proper position, namely in a direction disposed toward the track and be held against vibration or the action of wind, I provide yielding means for maintaining the initial positions of the hoops, namely the position shown in Figure 1. This means has been shown in the form of the parallelly arranged spring fingers 21. These fingers 21, in the particular exemplification, are shown consisting of a strip of resilient metal bent to provide the two depending fingers 21 which are intended to engage with opposite sides of the squared or angular portion or handle 19 of the order-holding hoop 11. The bowed por tion of the resilient strip is shown bent about a suitable pin 22 secured in the side of the staff or'pipe 10 at a suitable distance above each transverse slot 1 1; the finger strip being clamped in place by a suitable pin or bolt as at 23; or may be welded on pin 22. The pin 22 and the spring fingers are rigidly secured in place at a suitable distance, for example say six inches above each slot 1 1.

The train order holding hoop is inserted into its respective groove in the rotative block 17 with the fingers 21 suread apart so as to engage opposite sides of the handle'19, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. It is apparent that a horizontal'inovement or swinging of the hoop through the action of wind or vibration is impossible, while on the other hand the fingers 21 will flex sufficiently when the hoop is grasped by the engine crew to allow the fingers to snap across the handle and permit the handle 19 to free itself from member 17.

In order that the openings in the staff may be closed against the ingress of snow and rain when not in use,'I provide the staff with slidable closure members 24. The closure members 24 each consist of an arcuate or semicylindrical metal plate slidably held in place bythe flanged rings 25, 25 arranged above and below each slot 14, see Figure 3; and the slide plates orclosure members. 24 are each provided with a suitable hand grasp as at 26 which enables the closure member to be rotated about the staff so as to cover the slot 14 when the staff is not in use and thus prevent the ingress of snow and the like through the slot 14 The flanged rings 25, and especially the lower ring of each pair, may be provided with suitable holes or openings as at 25 to permit rain, snow or ice to drain out of the slideway for the closure members 24:.

The upper end of the staff is also preferably provided with a hand grasp and lanternhol'ding bracket, as at 27 while the top of the suitable cap, as at 28, Figure 1, which may be formed to receive a road indicating plate as at 29.

The order holding hoop 11 maybe substantially similar to the hoops at present employed, being preferably provided with a handle 19, either angular or square in crosssection in order that it may not rotate in the groove 18 and so that the fingers 21 may have effective holding relation therewith as heretofore described. The inner end of the staff or handle 19 is provided with a. slit as at 30, Figure 1, in which the orders are placed; while the ring or hoop portion 31 is of sulficient size to permit it to readily slip onto the" extended arm of a member of the train crew while the tram is in motion. These holders, after the order or orders have been removed by the trainmen, are then thrown out along the right-of-way to be gathered up by the station attendant for subsequent use.

I have shown what I believe to be a simple embodiment of the invention which has been described in terms employed merely for purposes of description and not as terms of limitation, as modifications may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. Train order holding means comprising, in combination with train order holding hoops having elongated handles; a vertical standard provided with transverse slots at prearranged vertically spaced points; means mounted in the standard at each slot so as to rotate transversely of the standard in directions lengthwise of the slots and adapted to receive-one end of atrain order holder; and yielding means whereby accidental rotation of the first means is prevented and the position of the order holder is maintained.

2. Train order holding means comprising a tubular standard provided with transverse slots at predetermined vertically spaced points; a soclreted member rotatably mounted in the standard coincident with each slot adapt-ed to receive one end of a train order holder; and yielding means secured to the standard adjacent to the slots adapted to maintain the order holc ers in prearranged positions.

" means for said slots.

4. Train order holding means comprising, in combination with an order holding hoop member provided with a handle rectangular in cross-section; a tubular standard provided with a transverse slot; a block rotatably mounted in the standard coincident with the slot and provided with an angular groove in its upper face adapted to receive the handle of the order holding hoop; means yieldably mounted in the standard. on the block for holding the hoop in horizontal position; and

spring fingers secured to the standard and adapted to engage opposite sides of the order 7 holder handle for normally maintaining the holder in prearranged positlon.

5. Tram order holding means comprising a vertical tubular standard provided with transverse slots at predetermined vertically spaced points; an order holder receiving member in said standard coincident with each slot andarranged to move horizontallyja closure member for each slot slidably mounted on the standard; and yielding means for holding the order holders against accidental lateral movement.

6. Train order holding means comprising a vertical tubular standard provided with transverse slots spaced apart vertically and with lantern holding means; a grooved block rotatably mounted in the standard coincident with each slot; a weight member loosely mounted in the standard above each grooved block adapted to cooperate with the groove for loosely holding a train order holder in horizontal position; a closure 7 member for each slot slidablv mounted on the standard; and spring fingers arranged adjacent to each slot for yieldingly holding the order holders against accidental lateral movement.

7. Means of the character described comprising, in combination with train order holding hoops having elongated handles; a hollow vertical standard provided with transverse slots at predetermined vertically spaced points; a socketed member, rotatably mounted in the standard coincident with each slot, adapted to receive one end of the handle of an order holding hoop; and yieldable means in the standard above each socketed member and cooperating therewith to hold the order holder in horizontal position.

RALPH WESLEY STEWART. 

